Newcastle’s New Arrival – It’s So Enormous

Ciaran Clark signed on for a £5.1M fee and a five-year contract at Newcastle last month, after we activated the release clause in his Aston Villa contract.

At the very same time we brought in Mohamed Diame from Hull City for £4.5M – again by activating the release clause in the Senegal International’s contract.

Two excellent buys for Newcastle for less than a £10M cumulative fee – very good business for the club.

Ciaran Clark – in action at St. James’ Park It was interesting how we got Ciaran, because new manager Roberto Di Matteo was keen to keep him at Villa, where Ciaran had been for 15 years, since he was just 11 years old.

And he was just a year into a new five year deal, but Ciaran wanted to join Rafa Benitez and Newcastle United and it seems like he just jumped at the chance to join the north-east club.

Ciaran has given a long interview with Times correspondent George Caulkin and the 26 year-old Irish International makes some interesting comments baout the size of his new club.

Here’s what Clark said about his debut at St. James’ Park against Reading:

“I think it’s going to take a bit of getting used to and it’ll take a while before we get into a rhythm”

“It was spine-tingling. It’s very different to what I’ve experienced before.”

“I’ve played here in the past, but you don’t realise just how loud it is, how big, until you’re there, looking around, having a moment to soak it up.”

“It’s so enormous.”

Ciaran must have played at St. James’ Park quite a few times for Aston Villa in the past, but we suppose it’s different when you are on the home team.

The defender will be fighting it out across the back four for a place either in central defense or at left-back.

There’s some big competition there, but we think the 26 year-old will turn out to be another good signing for the club.

health update

My latest checkup was yesteday and after a battery of tests the results show the cancer remains stabilized and has not spread further.

Some background - I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 after being in remission for six years. and I completed four months of intense chemotherapy in late July.

The cancer metastasized through the bones and one treatment available I am undergoing is hormone treatment.

There is no cure for Stage 4 cancer and I will continue to have exhaustive blood tests about every three months and CAT-scans and bone-scans when necessary.

I will do my best under the circumstances and I take this as another challenge - a big one.

Ed Harrison

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